Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards

RAD bursaries, scholarships and competitions provide opportunities for young people to gain performance experience and to further their study and training.

The 2022 Australian Advanced 1 Bursary

Due to the disruption of COVID-19 in 2020 and ongoing uncertainty of impacts into 2021, the Advanced 1 Bursary will return in early 2022.

We have used this opportunity to review the Bursary in an effort to bring you a refreshed competition and respond to your feedback. While the overall competition format remains the same some key changes will come into effect from 2022. Please see below for details.

The Australian Advanced 1 Bursary

Recognising the huge importance of nurturing and providing opportunities for creativity in young dancers, the Australian Advanced 1 Bursary is held annually and the award, if made, is provided for further Classical Ballet training in the Royal Academy of Dance method and associated pre-professional training upon agreement with the Royal Academy of Dance. The Bursary is offered at the discretion of the Academy.

Students take part in a warm up class, non-syllabus class at Advanced 1 level and perform a Classical Variation from the listed repertoire, as well as a Dancers’ Own Variation.  The Dancers’ Own Variation allows candidates to perform their own choreography, or that of a teacher or peer. A choreographic award is also assessed at the semi-finals only.

This provides an important step in the development of young dancers, with the opportunity for candidates to experience the artistic freedom to produce and perform their own creation to their own choice of music. It also promotes and rewards choreography as a distinct part of the creative process.

Entry Requirements

Candidates must fulfill the following by the closing date of Bursary:

• Be a current financial member of the Royal Academy of Dance
• Be of non-professional status, meaning they are not engaged by a professional company or production on a regular basis as a paid dancer
• Have passed the Royal Academy of Dance Advanced 1 Examination (with Distinction)
• Be 17 years of age or under at 31 December in the Bursary year (i.e. will not turn 18 at any time in the Bursary year).
• Have not yet taken the Academy’s Advanced 2 Examination.
• Have not been a finalist in the Australian Advanced 1 Bursary in previous years.
• Have submitted a completed entry form accompanied by a copy of the student’s RAD Advanced 1 Examination result which must be received by the closing date published on the website.
• The required fee, also published on the RAD website each year, has been paid with the entry.
• Students may re-apply for the Bursary as many times as they wish, provided the entry requirements are met and they have not previously been a finalist.

Location

The Royal Academy of Dance holds the Advanced 1 Bursary Semi-Finals in designated centres in Australia.  The number of centres depends on the number of applicants in each location.  Normal entry fees apply where there is a minimum of two entrants; however sole entrants may be required to pay a surcharge to assist in off-setting the considerable costs of offering a Semi-Final. The Bursary is an Australia-wide competition and candidates may enter at any approved Semi-Final centre outside of their state of residence upon application to the RAD, or if a Semi-Final is not offered in their state of residence.

Semi-Finals

The Semi-Finals will take place in front of an invited audience and one judge and consist of a non-syllabus class at Advanced 1 level. Conditions for a permitted audience will be subject to the venue, capacity limits, or any other government directions in place at the time. The class will last approximately 1¼ hours (may be shorter if there are a small number of candidates) and will be followed by the performance of one Classical Repertoire variation and the Dancer’s Own for both female and male candidates. Candidates will have a half-hour (1/2) warm-up barre with music prior to the start of the class without the judge or audience present. The RAD will supply a pianist for the warm-up barre and class at the semi-finals level.

Finals

The Final will take place in front of an invited audience and a panel of two judges of a non-syllabus class at Advanced 1 level. Conditions for the permitted audience will be subject to the venue, capacity limits or any other government directions in place at the time. The class will last approximately 1¼ hours and will be followed by the performance of one Classical Repertoire variation and the Dancer’s Own and for both female and male candidates. Candidates will have a half-hour (1/2) warm-up barre with music prior to the start of the class without the judges or audience present. The RAD will supply a pianist for the warm-up barre, class, and classical repertoire variation. The class will commence with centre practice and will include pointe-work for female students.  Both the class and warm-up barre will be conducted by a guest teacher.  The purpose of the open class is to assess the students’ technical, music and performance abilities in various styles of work, which will be set by the teacher who will not be a member of the judging panel.

Find out more about the Australian Advanced 1 Bursary semi-finals and final dates here

Variations

A list of classical variations for male and female identifying candidates can be found in the Advanced 1 Bursary Rules and Conditions.

The guidelines for the Dancer’s Own Variation including information for choreographers and music can also be found in the Advanced 1 Bursary Rules and Conditions.

Music References
Links for music references can be found in this document. Candidates are free to select any version of the variation choreography from a traditional production by a reputable company. These music references do not constitute a statement about “official tempo”. This may be negotiated with the pianist in the rehearsal. It is highly suggested that the entrant sends the pianist or regional manager a clip of the version they will perform so that they have a reference for tempo for rehearsal

Dress Code

Class The Academy’s recommended Vocational Graded Examination uniform. For female candidates, pointe shoes are required for the pointe work section of the class and for the Classical Variation.

Classical Repertoire Variations The costume is the candidates’ choice, but should be appropriate to the variation and a head-dress may be worn; alternatively, a leotard with tutu or appropriate skirt of any matching colour may be worn for females.

Dancer’s Own Candidates may wear a simple costume and/or use hand-held props if appropriate; however, no scenery or masks may be used. The candidate’s costume must not make any reference to characters from films or musicals that are still in copyright. Candidates are to wear appropriate footwear or may dance in bare feet. Dancing in socks is not permitted for safety reasons.

Outcomes and Awards

• The Judging Panel will assess the class, Classical variation and Dancer’s Own variation. All decisions are final.
• The Bursary is to be used to further the winner’s training and career development as follows with training in the RAD method (up to $5,000) or other method (up $2,000), and/or against material/equipment needed for the winner to continue their training. In all cases evidence of prior payment or purchases or provision of tuition must be forwarded and payments will be offset against eligible costs.
• The Bursary will normally be awarded to a single candidate. The Academy reserves the right to withhold the Bursary if the required standard is not met.
• The Bursary winner must commence further study within 12 months of the date of the award. This time limit can only be extended at the Academy’s discretion, and any funds not used within two years of the date of the Award will be forfeited.
• Students who do not follow these rules and regulations of entry may be disqualified.
• The Academy reserves the right to alter the Bursary Rules and Conditions of Entry at any time and without prior notice.

More information

Download a copy of the Advanced 1 Bursary Rules and Conditions.

Contact
For further information please contact your Regional Manager or the Examinations Department at the Sydney office on

T: 02 9331 4111
E: exams@rad.org.au .

Other Bursaries

Information on other bursaries is available from the RAD headquarters site.